Waste accumulated along the Odaw drainage system in Accra, raising concerns about sanitation and flooding during heavy rainfall.
Accra, Ghana — Heavy rainfall in Accra often brings renewed concern about flooding, particularly in communities located around major waterways and drainage channels. Among the areas that continue to attract attention is the Odaw Lagoon and drainage corridor around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area, where waste accumulation and poor sanitation remain major concerns for residents.
For people who live and work around the area, the problem is more than an unpleasant-looking environment. Rubbish, plastics and other discarded materials can enter drains and waterways, reducing the space available for stormwater to flow during periods of heavy rainfall.
When intense rain comes, the combination of large volumes of water and blocked or restricted drainage channels can create difficult conditions for communities.
When Rubbish Meets Heavy Rain
Accra's flooding challenges have several causes, including rainfall intensity, drainage capacity, urban development and waste-management practices.
The Odaw drainage system is particularly important because it forms part of the network through which stormwater moves across parts of the capital. The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project has identified areas around Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the wider Odaw basin as vulnerable to flooding.
Waste can make the situation more difficult.
Plastic bags, bottles, food packaging and other discarded materials can be carried by rainwater into drains. As the rubbish accumulates, water may have greater difficulty passing through certain sections of the drainage network.
The result can be flooding on roads and in surrounding communities, especially when rainfall is intense.
A Ghana News Agency report on Accra's perennial flooding also highlighted indiscriminate waste disposal as one factor that can worsen flooding, particularly when waste is carried by runoff and accumulates in drainage channels and waterways such as the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon.
Life Around the Flood-Prone Areas
For residents and businesses around Circle and nearby communities, flooding can disrupt everyday life.
Roads can become difficult to use, commuters may face delays, traders can struggle to protect their goods, and businesses may experience interruptions.
But flooding is only one part of the problem.
Waste that remains around drains and waterways can produce unpleasant smells, particularly when it becomes mixed with stagnant water. For people living close to affected areas, the smell and general condition of the surroundings can become a persistent source of discomfort.
These concerns have been raised around the Odaw drainage system for years.
A 2022 Daily Graphic report, for example, documented significant waste accumulation in parts of the Odaw drain ahead of the rainy season and highlighted concerns about refuse dumping and maintenance of the drainage channel.
The fact that similar concerns continue to arise shows that sanitation around waterways remains an important issue for Accra.
The Human Side of the Problem
It is easy to look at a blocked drain as an infrastructure problem, but behind every flooded road are people whose daily lives can be affected.
A student trying to get to school, a worker travelling to a job, a trader protecting merchandise or a family trying to keep floodwater away from their home can all experience the consequences.
For communities around the Odaw corridor, the accumulation of waste therefore has consequences that extend beyond appearance.
People want to live in surroundings where drains function properly and where waste does not remain close to their homes and workplaces.
The unpleasant smell associated with stagnant and polluted water can also make an already difficult situation worse.
Why Cleaning Alone Is Not Enough
Removing accumulated waste and silt from waterways can provide immediate relief, but the longer-term challenge is preventing the same materials from returning.
This is where waste management becomes particularly important.
If rubbish continues to be dumped into drains or waterways after a clean-up exercise, the drainage system can gradually return to the same condition.
A 2025 report concerning the Odaw also raised questions about how dredged materials and waste are handled after drainage work, highlighting the importance of ensuring that removed materials do not simply find their way back into the waterway.
A sustainable approach therefore requires more than occasional clean-up exercises. It involves regular maintenance, reliable waste collection, proper disposal facilities, public education and enforcement of sanitation rules.
Government and Citizens Share Responsibility
Government institutions and local authorities have an important responsibility in maintaining public drainage infrastructure and managing sanitation in the city.
At the same time, residents and businesses also have a role to play.
A drainage system cannot function effectively if people continually use it as a dumping ground.
A single plastic bottle may appear insignificant, but large quantities of waste can accumulate over time. During rainfall, those materials can be carried through the drainage network and become trapped at points where water needs to pass.
Responsible waste disposal is therefore not simply a matter of keeping Accra attractive. It is connected to the city's ability to manage stormwater effectively.
Residents Want Their Concerns Taken Seriously
People living and working around the Odaw and Circle areas have expressed frustration about the condition of some waste-affected locations and the unpleasant smells that can accompany accumulated rubbish and stagnant water.
Their concerns are understandable.
Nobody wants to live or work beside a waterway filled with waste, particularly in an area that can experience flooding during heavy rainfall.
The concerns also point to a wider question about how Accra should manage its waterways as the city continues to grow.
Instead of waiting for severe flooding before attention turns to drains and waterways, maintenance and waste-management efforts need to be part of the city's regular planning.
Accra's Flooding Problem Needs a Long-Term Approach
There is no single explanation for flooding in Accra, and no single solution will eliminate the problem.
Rainfall patterns, drainage infrastructure, development, construction, waste disposal and maintenance all contribute to the situation.
However, keeping rubbish out of waterways is one practical area where both authorities and the public can make a difference.
For the communities around Odaw Lagoon and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the issue is ultimately about more than waste.
It is about the condition of the environment, the safety of roads and communities, the comfort of residents and the ability of Accra's drainage network to perform its role when heavy rain arrives.
As the city prepares for future rainy seasons, the condition of its waterways deserves continued attention. Cleaner drains, responsible waste disposal and consistent maintenance can help create a healthier environment while reducing some of the pressures that contribute to flooding.
For residents around the Odaw corridor, the hope is simple: a cleaner environment, functioning drainage channels and a city better prepared for the next heavy rainfall.